ALL-COUNTY FOOTBALL: Tecumseh QB Dreslinski named Offensive Player of the Year

Thursday

Nov 29, 2012 at 3:45 PM

By Scott McNeishDaily Telegram Sports Editor

Senior quarterback Ben Dreslinski encountered several challenges upon joining the Tecumseh High School football team.

Learning a new offense.

Mastering the timing of routes with his new receivers.

Earning the trust of new linemen and teammates.

How did he handle it all?

"I threw with the receivers every day after school," Dreslinski said. "With the offense, I went into Coach (Al) Romano's office and learned two or three plays a day. With the lineman, I just bought them food."

Following a transfer last winter from Clinton, Dreslinski clicked with his new tribe this season.

The Daily Telegram sports staff named Dreslinski the Lenawee County Offensive Player of the Year.

"It's nice to be the quarterback of the team that changed the culture, but it wasn't just me," Dreslinski said. "It was the linemen, the receivers, the defense, the running backs, the coaching — everybody."

"As he takes command of the game, he has the ability to see the whole field and distribute the ball," Romano said. "When things get botched up, he'll pull it down and run it, and he reads the running game as well as he reads the passing game. That's what makes him such a threat."

Dreslinski utilized all of his weapons, evidenced by Tecumseh's four receivers with at least 28 receptions.

"Right from the beginning, he took over the offense," Tecumseh senior receiver Spencer Adams said. "He came in during the offseason and got chemistry with our receivers throwing in the gym. He was a leader right from the start. He's a great player, and he's going to be great at the next level."

Dreslinski opened with a bang. He threw for 305 yards with a season-high five touchdowns and no interceptions in Tecumseh's Week 1 triumph over Monroe Jefferson.

That performance catapulted him through the rest of the season.

"It was huge for my confidence," Dreslinski said. "Coming in three divisions higher than I was before and throwing five touchdowns, it made me feel like, 'Hey, I belong here.'"

Tecumseh started 6-0 and clinched its first playoff berth since 2007.

Dreslinski threw 92 passes without an interception to begin the season. Meanwhile, he rushed for more than 120 yards against both Ann Arbor Huron and Ypsilanti.

Romano said Dreslinski's stats were deceiving.

"In the first six games, he never played the whole game," Romano explained. "He never played the fourth quarter, because we were up big and called off the dogs. He got those statistics in the first three quarters."

The Indians posted their first victory over rival Adrian since 2002 to secure a share of the SEC White title.

Then came the playoff run.

Tecumseh hosted Chelsea in the pre-district playoff round before an electric atmosphere at Indian Stadium. Chelsea led 17-0 early, but Tecumseh rallied for its first playoff win since 1991. Dreslinski completed 13 of his final 19 passes with a touchdown to spark the comeback.

"That was great for the whole town," Dreslinski said.

The next week, Tecumseh captured its first district crown by beating previously undefeated Milan on the road.

Dreslinski stole the show in the regional final against Battle Creek Harper Creek, passing for 288 yards with three touchdowns and rushing for 95 yards in a losing effort.

Harper Creek coach Ed Greenman was impressed.

"I've been at this for 28 years, and that quarterback is the real deal," Greenman said after the game. "That's the best I've ever seen, and we've played against some great quarterbacks over the years."

Dreslinski's future remains uncertain. He received walk-on offers from South Carolina, Toledo, Michigan State and Bowling Green State.

One thing is for certain, though.

"He was a great leader for us, and it started as soon as he got here," Romano said. "We were blessed to get him."

PAST WINNERS Here is a look at the county's football Offensive Player of the Year award winners since 2006.